The French Open 2023 is currently underway and Rafael Nadal is being surely missed. The 14-time Roland Garros winner decided not to play in his favourite slam owing to an injury he had suffered in the Australian Open in January earlier this year.

The Spaniard has now undergone the surgery for the same injury — arthroscopic surgery for injured left hip flexor to be precise — on Friday night, a day before his 37th birthday. Nadal's spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo informed about the surgery which took place in Barcelona.

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Nadal picked up the injury during his second round loss against Mackenzie McDonald in the Australian Open on January 18 and hasn't played a single game since. The 22-time grand slam winner hoped to recover in time for the Monte Carlos tournament but that couldn't be the case. The Spaniard dropped out of French Open afterwards as he informed about his decision days before the ongoing grand slam.

"The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible. At this moment, I won't be able to be at Roland Garros. With what that tournament is for me, you can imagine how difficult it is. I have no intention of continuing to play for the next few months," Nadal had said at the press conference.

He further said that he'd like to play for another year on the professional court but he couldn't say that with 100 per cent surety.

"My intention is for next year to be my last year on the professional tour, I can't say this 100 per cent because you never know what's going to happen," Nadal had added.

Notably, with 22 slams, Nadal is tied with Serbian Novak Djokovic for most grand slam titles among men. Djokovic, however, has the chance to go one up on Nadal if he manages to win French Open 2023 as he has already entered the Round of 16.&nbsp;

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The French Open 2023 is currently underway and Rafael Nadal is being surely missed. The 14-time Roland Garros winner decided not to play in his favourite slam owing to an injury he had suffered in the Australian Open in January earlier this year.

The French Open 2023 is currently underway and Rafael Nadal is being surely missed. The 14-time Roland Garros winner decided not to play in his favourite slam owing to an injury he had suffered in the Australian Open in January earlier this year. The Spaniard has now undergone the surgery for the same injury — arthroscopic surgery for injured left hip flexor to be precise — on Friday night, a day before his 37th birthday. Nadal's spokesman Benito Perez-Barbadillo informed about the surgery which took place in Barcelona. Also Read: FA Cup Final Preview: Manchester United stand in way as Pep Guardiola's City chase historic treble Nadal picked up the injury during his second round loss against Mackenzie McDonald in the Australian Open on January 18 and hasn't played a single game since. The 22-time grand slam winner hoped to recover in time for the Monte Carlos tournament but that couldn't be the case. The Spaniard dropped out of French Open afterwards as he informed about his decision days before the ongoing grand slam. "The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible. At this moment, I won't be able to be at Roland Garros. With what that tournament is for me, you can imagine how difficult it is. I have no intention of continuing to play for the next few months," Nadal had said at the press conference. He further said that he'd like to play for another year on the professional court but he couldn't say that with 100 per cent surety. "My intention is for next year to be my last year on the professional tour, I can't say this 100 per cent because you never know what's going to happen," Nadal had added. Notably, with 22 slams, Nadal is tied with Serbian Novak Djokovic for most grand slam titles among men. Djokovic, however, has the chance to go one up on Nadal if he manages to win French Open 2023 as he has already entered the Round of 16. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal undergoes surgery for injury which forced him out of French Open

A day after crashing out of the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal has informed that he will be out of action for six to eight weeks with a hip flexor muscle injury. The 36-year-old took to Twitter to share the news and said, "Good afternoon.

A day after crashing out of the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal has informed that he will be out of action for six to eight weeks with a hip flexor muscle injury. The 36-year-old took to Twitter to share the news and said, "Good afternoon. I have carried out medical tests after the defeat yesterday." "The MRI shows a grade 2 lesion in the iliacus psoas of the left leg. Now it's sports rest and anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. Normal recovery time 6 to 8 weeks." Buenas tardes. He realizado pruebas médicas tras la derrota en el día de ayer. La resonancia magnética muestra una lesión grado 2 en el Psoas Iliaco de su pierna izquierda. Ahora toca reposo deportivo y fisioterapia anti inflamatoria. Tiempo normal de recuperación 6 a 8 semanas. pic.twitter.com/xwcKSyTzhp — Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 19, 2023 × The recovery time means that Nadal might miss the ATP 1000 Indian Wells and Miami scheduled to take place in March. The failure to participate in those events will hurt Nadal's ranking. However, if the 22-time Grand Slam winner does not face any other injury hurdle, he could be back in time for the clay-court season that begins in mid-April and leads into the French Open. Australian Open heartbreak for Nadal The Spanish world number two could not compete at his best during the second-round encounter with American challenger Mackenzie McDonald, primarily due to the injury. Behind the eight-ball curve, Nadal took a medical time-out when trailing 6-4, 5-3 to patch himself up and give one final push. The physios tried their best but the two-time champion at the Rod Laver Arena looked ginger and timid in his movement across the court. In the end, the defending champion bowed out of the tournament, suffering a 4-6, 4-6, 5-7 straight sets defeat - his worst result in the last seven years at the majors. Read more: Australian Open: Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashes out in straight sets After the match, Nadal said he did not want to retire from the match and it was better it ended like this. "I didn't want to retire, to be defending champion here. Better like this at the end. I lost. Congratulate the opponent." WATCH | Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal crashes out of the Australian Open × Though, a visibly distraught Nadal admitted he was admitted 'mentally destroyed' post his loss. “I can’t complain about my life at all. So just in terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, I mean, that’s another one. Just can’t say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying." Read more: 'Can’t say I’m not destroyed...': Rafael Nadal after shock Australian Open exit The Spaniard added that he felt 'super tired' after injuries had become a regular occurrence for him on the tour. "At the end, you need to keep going, no? Sometimes it's frustrating. Sometimes it's difficult to accept. Sometimes you feel super tired about all this stuff in terms of injuries." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Rafael Nadal sidelined from tennis action for six-eight weeks due to injury

Rafael Nadal Tuesday said his back is still "not great" despite opening his campaign for a record 21st Grand Slam title with a routine straight-sets win.

The world number two pulled out of the ATP Cup last week with the niggle and said ahead of the Australian Open that he was "suffering".

He motored through his first-round clash against valiant Serb Laslo Djere with little drama, racing to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, victory under blue skies on Rod Laver Arena, but admitted he was still struggling.

"My back is not perfect, as I said a couple of days ago," said the Spaniard, whose only appearance this year had been an exhibition against Dominic Thiem in Adelaide 12 days ago, where he first experienced stiffness in his back.

"Every day that I'm able to go through, probably there are more chances to be better. That's the thing now.&nbsp;

"There is always a chance to improve, and that's why I'm here playing and fighting to try to get better and then give myself a chance."

The injury forced him to make changes in his service action against Djere, who didn't have the weapons to trouble the second seed despite Nadal being below par.

"Today it's not great. I needed to change a little bit the motion of my serve," he said.&nbsp;

"I need to go day-to-day and just try to stay positive. I'm trying to do all the things possible to be ready for compete -- that's what I came here for."

It was his first competitive match since the semi-finals of the ATP Finals in London on November 21.

Nadal raced to a 3-0 first-set lead and wrapped it up before a tougher set two as Djere raised his first serve percentage and got himself in the rallies, with Nadal saving three break points.

But the unrelenting Spaniard was never in jeopardy, dominating off his first serve and outlasting the 56th-ranked Serb on the long rallies.

"I wish him all the best for the rest of the season," Nadal said. "Laslo has a great story. I wish him the best of luck."&nbsp;

The 2009 champion, who has a history of back problems, is looking to edge ahead of Roger Federer in career Slam titles, with both men having 20 to their name.

But the king of clay has often laboured in vain on Melbourne's hardcourts, reaching five finals but only having the one title, falling in the quarter-finals last year to Dominic Thiem.

Nadal next plays either Serb veteran Viktor Troicki or qualifier Michael Mmoh and is on course to meet Greek rising star and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals.

Rafael Nadal Tuesday said his back is still "not great" despite opening his campaign for a record 21st Grand Slam title with a routine straight-sets win. The world number two pulled out of the ATP Cup last week with the niggle and said ahead of the Australian Open that he was "suffering".

Rafael Nadal Tuesday said his back is still "not great" despite opening his campaign for a record 21st Grand Slam title with a routine straight-sets win. The world number two pulled out of the ATP Cup last week with the niggle and said ahead of the Australian Open that he was "suffering". He motored through his first-round clash against valiant Serb Laslo Djere with little drama, racing to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, victory under blue skies on Rod Laver Arena, but admitted he was still struggling. "My back is not perfect, as I said a couple of days ago," said the Spaniard, whose only appearance this year had been an exhibition against Dominic Thiem in Adelaide 12 days ago, where he first experienced stiffness in his back. "Every day that I'm able to go through, probably there are more chances to be better. That's the thing now. "There is always a chance to improve, and that's why I'm here playing and fighting to try to get better and then give myself a chance." The injury forced him to make changes in his service action against Djere, who didn't have the weapons to trouble the second seed despite Nadal being below par. "Today it's not great. I needed to change a little bit the motion of my serve," he said. "I need to go day-to-day and just try to stay positive. I'm trying to do all the things possible to be ready for compete -- that's what I came here for." It was his first competitive match since the semi-finals of the ATP Finals in London on November 21. Nadal raced to a 3-0 first-set lead and wrapped it up before a tougher set two as Djere raised his first serve percentage and got himself in the rallies, with Nadal saving three break points. But the unrelenting Spaniard was never in jeopardy, dominating off his first serve and outlasting the 56th-ranked Serb on the long rallies. "I wish him all the best for the rest of the season," Nadal said. "Laslo has a great story. I wish him the best of luck." The 2009 champion, who has a history of back problems, is looking to edge ahead of Roger Federer in career Slam titles, with both men having 20 to their name. But the king of clay has often laboured in vain on Melbourne's hardcourts, reaching five finals but only having the one title, falling in the quarter-finals last year to Dominic Thiem. Nadal next plays either Serb veteran Viktor Troicki or qualifier Michael Mmoh and is on course to meet Greek rising star and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals.

'Not great' - Nadal cruises despite lingering back injury

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Tennis: Rafael Nadal undergoes surgery for injury which forced him out of French Open

Rafael Nadal sidelined from tennis action for six-eight weeks due to injury

'Not great' - Nadal cruises despite lingering back injury